Blog
BUOYS
on September 18, 2019
The two main types of Aids to Navigation are buoys and beacons. Buoys are Aids that float on top of the water, but are moored to the bottom of the body of water. Some have a light affixed to the top; some do not. It’s important to understand them and their purpose. A buoy with a cylindrical shape and a conical top is referred to is a “nun.” A […]
NEVER FORGET
on September 11, 2019
On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaida hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist […]
USING A GENERATOR SAFELY
on August 28, 2019
Generator Safety Tips Use proper care. Proper ventilation is critical to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator’s engine exhaust. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a common, serious danger that can cause death if generators are used improperly; this is particularly true when the fuel is not burned completely. Placement is key. Never use generators indoors or outside near windows, vents, or air intakes that could allow CO to come indoors. Keep other items […]
OVER NIGHT BOATING
on August 21, 2019
Begin any overnight adventure with a game plan and lots of prep. Beyond going through your preflight checklist to make sure everything on board is working, here are our own tips from many happy nights sleeping aboard boats both large and teeny: Pre-start. If you’re anxious about your first night on the boat, plan at least one overnight at the dock as practice. Pretend you can’t go ashore. Practice makes (hopefully) perfect. Sure, you know […]
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
on August 14, 2019
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY, TRAINING IS NEEDED According to 2013 statistics, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that collision with another vessel, flooding, collision with a fixed objects, grounding, and skier mishap are the top five types of boating accidents. The Top 10 contributing factors to accidents are operator inattention, improper lookout, inexperience of the operator, speeding, machinery failure, alcohol use, violation of […]
HURRICANE PREP BEFORE & AFTER
on July 31, 2019
It’s said that every minute you spend planning saves 10 minutes in execution. When a hurricane threatens, you’ll be glad your plan is ready to go. The first step in developing a preparation plan is to review your dock contract for language that may require you to take certain steps or to leave the marina when a hurricane threatens. Some marinas require boat owners to have and present a hurricane plan of their own. Ask […]
STORM PREP
on July 24, 2019
STORM PREP A hurricane or other major storm brings four threats — wind, rain, waves, and surge — and you can improve your boat’s odds against all four by preparing early. Based on a great article by Tim Murphy We live in an age of unprecedented storm forecasting. In both the United States and Europe, ever more sophisticated computer models provide us with ever lengthier lead times to prepare our boats for the worst as […]
KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE
on July 10, 2019
OKAY, POSSIBLE RANT COMING…… I digress. All too often I see and experience an all too common lack of common decency and basic boating right of way. Heck, how about some common respect and manners. This article addresses it very well and keeps my blood pressure in check. How Close Is Too Close? By Carol Newman Cronin Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s the moral code, right? Maybe it’s […]
SUMMER BASICS
on July 3, 2019
SUMMER BOATING BASICS Okay, so now that Summer is here, and the holiday is rapidly approaching, the waters tend to get busy so let’s remember some basics of having a safe summer boating season. Below are some quick tips on boating responsibly in the great outdoors. TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY Travel responsibly on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas. Travel only in areas open to your type of boat. Carry a Coast Guard approved […]
FLARES
on June 19, 2019
I often get asked questions as to what flares are the best. Here’s a quick snapshot of what I tell folks. First ,Flares should be kept in a waterproof container in an easily accessible location such as a cockpit locker. There are several types of flares for different purposes: Distress flares RED HANDHELD FLARES: Use as a line of sight distress signal by day and night.Hold with arms outstretched.Point downwind.Don’t look at flare.Lasts approx 1 […]